Dana Boente

Dana James Boente (born February 7 1954) is an American lawyer whose career has spanned both the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation. He served in a variety of senior roles, most notably as acting United States Attorney General during the first month of President Donald Trump’s administration and later as general counsel to the FBI from 2018 until mid‑2020.

Early life and career

Boente was born in Carlinville, Illinois, to parents James and Doris Boente. He pursued higher education at Saint Louis University, earning a Bachelor of Science degree in business administration in 1976 followed by a Master of Business Administration from the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business in 1977. In 1982 he completed his Juris Doctor at the Saint Louis University School of Law.

Immediately after law school, Boente began his legal career as a clerk for Chief U.S. District Judge J. Waldo Ackerman of the Central District of Illinois. Two years later, in 1984, he entered the Attorney General’s Honors Program and joined the Criminal Section of the Tax Division. His early work focused on complex tax‑related prosecutions.

In 2001 Boente was appointed as an Assistant U.S. Attorney within the Fraud Unit of the Eastern District of Virginia. This position placed him at the center of federal investigations involving white‑collar crime, fraud, and related financial offenses.

Boente’s first appointment to a top district office came in December 2012 when President Barack Obama named him United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia. He served in that capacity until September 2013, after which he became Acting U.S. Attorney for the same district under the Vacancy Reform Act. In this acting role he continued to oversee federal prosecutions and policy implementation until December 15 2015.

During his tenure as Acting U.S. Attorney, Boente was involved in the prosecution of former Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen. He publicly emphasized that no individual, regardless of public office, is exempt from legal accountability. The case ultimately led to a Supreme Court decision in June 2016 that overturned McDonnell’s conviction on procedural grounds; the Department of Justice chose not to pursue retrial.

On October 8 2015 Boente was formally nominated by President Obama for the position of U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, and he was confirmed by the Senate via voice vote on December 15 2015. He served as the 60th holder of that office until early 2017.

In March 2017, Attorney General Jeff Sessions ordered all United States Attorneys to submit resignations; Boente was among the 46 officials asked to do so. President Trump declined to accept his resignation at that time.

Cabinet tenure

Boente’s brief but prominent role in the federal cabinet began on January 30 2017 when President Donald Trump appointed him Acting Attorney General following the dismissal of Acting Attorney General Sally Yates earlier that day. The appointment was made pursuant to Executive Order 13762, which established a line of succession within the Department of Justice.

After Yates’s removal, Channing D. Phillips—then United States Attorney for the District of Columbia—served as Acting Attorney General for several hours until the executive order naming Boente took effect later that evening. When Jeff Sessions was confirmed and sworn in as permanent Attorney General on February 9 2017, Boente transitioned to the position of Acting Deputy Attorney General.

During this period, Sessions recused himself from matters related to American presidential campaigns due to prior communications with Russian Ambassador Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 election. Boente assumed responsibility for overseeing campaign‑related issues within the Department of Justice until Rod J. Rosenstein was confirmed and sworn in as Deputy Attorney General on April 25 2017.

On October 27 2017, Boente announced his intention to resign from both the United States Attorney position and his role as acting assistant attorney general for the National Security Division. He stated that he would remain in these capacities until successors were confirmed.

In January 2018, following his departure from the Department of Justice, Boente was appointed General Counsel of the Federal Bureau of Investigation by Director Christopher Wray. The appointment filled a vacancy created when James Baker was reassigned within the bureau. As general counsel, Boente served as the FBI’s chief legal officer, advising on matters ranging from investigative procedures to compliance with federal statutes.

Boente resigned from the FBI on May 29 2020, effective June 30 2020. His departure marked the end of a decade‑long career in high‑profile federal law enforcement and prosecutorial roles.

Legacy

Dana Boente’s career reflects sustained service across multiple branches of the federal government. His tenure as acting Attorney General placed him at the helm of the Department of Justice during a critical transition period, where he oversaw the agency’s response to campaign‑related legal matters amid heightened scrutiny of presidential elections. In that capacity, he maintained continuity of leadership while awaiting the confirmation of permanent officials.

Boente’s work in the Eastern District of Virginia is notable for its focus on complex financial crimes and high‑profile prosecutions. His involvement in the Bob McDonnell case underscored his commitment to ensuring that public officials are subject to the same legal standards as private citizens, a stance that resonated with broader discussions about accountability within state governments.

As general counsel of the FBI, Boente contributed to the bureau’s legal framework during a time when law enforcement agencies faced evolving challenges related to technology, privacy, and international cooperation. His guidance helped shape the FBI’s approach to compliance with federal laws governing investigations and surveillance.

Throughout his career, Boente has been recognized for his expertise in tax‑related prosecutions, white‑collar crime, and national security matters. His appointments by Presidents Obama and Trump illustrate a bipartisan acknowledgment of his professional qualifications and experience. While his time in each role was relatively brief compared to some long‑tenured officials, his impact on the agencies he served remains part of the broader narrative of federal law enforcement leadership during the early twenty‑first century.